Method and apparatus for concomitant structural and biochemical characterization of tissue

Abstract

An optical imaging probe for providing information representative of morphological arid biochemical properties of a sample is provided. The optical imaging probe includes a spectroscopic imaging probe element and an OCT imaging probe element.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An optical imaging probe to provide information representative of morphological and biochemical properties of a sample, the optical imaging probe comprising: 
       a spectroscopic imaging probe element,  
       an OCT imaging probe element;  
       an optical probe window; and  
       a reflective optical filter disposed within an optical path between the optical window and the spectroscopic and OCT imaging probe elements and positioned to receive radiation incident on the optical probe window and to provide radiation of a first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element and to provide radiation of a second wavelength to the OCT imaging probe element, wherein the first wavelength is different than the second wavelength.  
     
     
       2. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  herein the optical imaging probe allows sequential imaging using the spectroscopic imaging probe element and the OCT imaging probe element. 
     
     
       3. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the optical imaging probe allows concomitant imaging using the spectroscopic imaging probe element and the OCT imaging probe element. 
     
     
       4. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the spectroscopic imaging probe element is used in a system selected from the group consisting of a fluorescence imaging system, an autofluorescence imaging system, a NIR absorption spectroscopic system, a NIR reflectance spectroscopic system, a Raman spectroscopic imaging system, a magnetic resonance imaging system, and an infrared system. 
     
     
       5. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the spectroscopic imaging probe element is a forward imaging type endoscope. 
     
     
       6. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       7. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the second wavelength is greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       8. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the first wavelength is in the NIR wavelength range. 
     
     
       9. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the reflective optical filter comprises a moveable mirror. 
     
     
       10. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the reflective optical filter provides a substantial amount of radiation of the first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element and wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       11. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the reflective optical filter provides a substantial amount of radiation of the second wavelength to the OCT imaging probe element and wherein the second wavelength is greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       12. The optical imaging probe of  claim 1  wherein the reflective optical filter reflect radiation of the first wavelength and transmits radiation of the second wavelength. 
     
     
       13. An optical imaging probe to provide information representative of morphological and biochemical properties of a sample, the optical imaging probe comprising: 
       a spectroscopic imaging probe element;  
       an optical probe window; and  
       a means for receiving radiation incident on the optical probe window and for selectively providing radiation of a first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element and selectively providing radiation of a second wavelength to an OCT imaging probe element.  
     
     
       14. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  further comprising an OCT imaging probe element wherein the optical imaging probe allows sequential imaging using the spectroscopic imaging probe element and the OCT imaging probe element. 
     
     
       15. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  further comprising an OCT imaging probe element wherein the optical imaging probe allows concomitant imaging using the spectroscopic imaging probe element and the OCT imaging probe element. 
     
     
       16. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm and the second wavelength is greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       17. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  wherein the first wavelength is in the NIR wavelength range. 
     
     
       18. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  wherein the means for selectively providing radiation of a first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element provides a substantial amount of radiation of the first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element and wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       19. The optical imaging probe of  claim 13  wherein the means for selectively providing radiation of a second wavelength to the OCT imaging probe element provides a substantial amount of radiation of the second wavelength to the OCT imaging probe element and wherein the second wavelength is greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       20. A method for non-invasively sensing biochemical and morphological characteristics of a target tissue comprising: 
       providing optical radiation to the target tissue;  
       receiving optical radiation from the target tissue, wherein the optical radiation received from the target tissue contains information about the biochemical and morphological characteristics of the target tissue;  
       selectively providing a first portion of the received optical radiation to a first optical imaging system, wherein the first portion of the received optical radiation comprises a first wavelength range; and  
       selectively providing a second portion of the received optical radiation to a second optical imaging system, wherein the second portion of the received optical radiation comprises a second wavelength range.  
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein the first optical imaging system is a spectroscopic imaging system. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein the spectroscopic imaging system is used in a system selected from the group consisting of a fluorescence imaging system, an autofluorescence imaging system, a NIR absorption spectroscopic system, a NIR reflectance spectroscopic system, a Raman spectroscopic imaging system, a magnetic resonance imaging system, and an infrared system. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20  wherein the first wavelength range comprises radiation having wavelengths in the NIR wavelength range. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  wherein the second optical imaging system is an OCT imaging system. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20  wherein the first wavelength range comprises radiation having wavelengths tat are less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 20  wherein the second wavelength range comprises radiation having wavelengths which are greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 20  wherein selectively providing a first portion of the received optical radiation to a first optical imaging system is performed by a reflective optical filter disposed within a path of the received optical radiation. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  wherein the reflective optical filter provides a substantial amount of radiation of the first wavelength range of the optical radiation received from the target tissue to a spectroscopic imaging system and wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27  wherein selectively providing a second portion of the received optical radiation to a second optical imaging system is performed by the reflective optical filter, and wherein the reflective optical filter provides a substantial amount of radiation of the second wavelength range of the optical radiation received from the target tissue to a OCT imaging system. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27  wherein the first wavelength range comprises radiation having wavelengths in the NIR wavelength range. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 20  wherein the target tissue comprises a lesion, a tumor, or plaque. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 20  wherein the target tissue is selected from the group consisting of skin, dental tissue, and cervical tissue. 
     
     
       33. A method for non-invasively sensing biochemical and morphological characteristics of a target tissue, the method comprising: 
       screening the target tissue using an optical imaging system having a spectroscopic imaging modality and an OCT imaging modality, the optical imaging system comprising:  
       a spectroscopic imaging system;  
       an OCT imaging system;  
       a data analysis unit; and  
       an OCT/spectroscopic imaging probe comprising:  
       a spectroscopic imaging probe element;  
       an OCT imaging probe element;  
       an optical probe window; and  
       a reflective optical filter disposed within an optical path between the optical probe window and the spectroscopic and OCT imaging probe elements and positioned to receive radiation incident on the optical probe window and to selectively provide radiation of a first wavelength to the spectroscopic imaging probe element and to selectively provide radiation of a second wavelength to the OCT imaging probe element;  
       detecting specific regions of interest in the target tissue using the spectroscopic imaging modality; and  
       obtaining information about the morphological characteristics of those specific regions of interest using the OCT imaging modality.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33  wherein the first wavelength is in the NOR wavelength range. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33  wherein the first wavelength is less than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33  wherein the second wavelength is greater than about 700 nm. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 33  wherein the target tissue comprises a lesion, a tumor, or plaque. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 33  wherein the target tissue is selected from the group consisting of skin, dental tissue, and cervical tissue.